Charming turtle machine

Turtle machine ( LiveScience )

Madeline's robot turtle is helping researchers learn how to make better self-propelled vehicles underwater.

Madeline's propeller is made of polyurethane, roughly equivalent to that of true turtles. Electric motors are controlled by an internal computer that will provide energy to the animal.

The turtle is 80x30 cm in size, weighing about 24 kg, roughly equivalent to Olive Ridley sea turtles. Using it, researchers began to recognize when to use both legs and when to use all four. On average, Madeline can reach speeds of up to two feet (0.7 meters per second).

The information is based on John Long, a member of the manufacturing group at Vassar College, New York. " Our view is that if natural parameters are given, it must be very good, " he explained.

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